Search Alphabetically

JMBM attorneys bring experience, expertise and business insight to sophisticated consumers of legal services. Our attorneys are recognized leaders in their areas of expertise, and are frequently called upon to teach, speak, write and comment on current legal and industry issues.

For more than 30 years, Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP (JMBM) has provided clients with results-successfully resolving cases, closing deals, protecting assets, and adding value. Many of the Firm's founding members continue to practice law at JMBM, which is now ranked in the American Lawyer's AmLaw 200 list and recognized by numerous industry, peer and media groups. From our offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Orange County, we serve our clients' needs worldwide.

JMBM attorneys keep our clients and friends up to date on developments that impact their businesses. Through blogs, newsletters, client alerts and bylined articles in industry publications, we provide analysis and practical advice. We also issue press releases on important news about our law firm. Additionally, the press calls on us frequently to provide expert commentary on current news. We invite you to subscribe to our publications, which are free of charge. If you are a member of the press looking for a resource, please contact Carol James who will connect you with the right person.

Michael Hassen's litigation practice spans almost 30 years and emphasizes general business and commercial litigation, including class action defense and matters involving intellectual property, securities and unfair competition. His Class Action Defense Blog contains more than 2,000 searchable pages and is routinely read by many in the legal community.

Michael has substantial experience representing corporations (particularly financial institutions and manufacturers) and real estate developers, owners and managers. He has significant experience in class actions and unfair business practice representative actions (section 17200), as well as business torts such as misappropriation of trade secrets and raiding of corporate employees, ADA claims, and all phases of commercial and real estate finance, construction finance and construction defect claims.

Michael also has experience representing lenders in all facets of lender litigation, ranging from class actions and unfair business practices based on alleged "predatory" lending and RESPA violations or alleged violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, to claims alleging elder abuse or challenging the validity or priority of liens.

Michael is experienced in appellate matters, having had primary responsibility for preparing more than 100 appellate briefs.

Representative Experience:

Michael's trial practice has focused on representing corporations, particularly lenders and developers in various commercial disputes. Most recently and indicative of his reputation, Michael was retained by a lender to represent it on appeal from an adverse judgment and significant punitive damage award in an out-of-state case

Michael's expertise in handling appeals arises from his experience serving as a law clerk at the California Supreme Court and the Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. He has argued before the California Supreme Court on three occasions, and has appeared numerous times before the Ninth Circuit and the various districts of the California Courts of Appeal

Education

J.D., Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California, Berkeley, 1986

Bar Admissions

CaliforniaDistrict of ColumbiaNew YorkU.S. Supreme CourtU.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia CircuitU.S. Court of Appeals, Second CircuitU.S. Court of Appeals, Third CircuitU.S. District Court of Appeals, Fourth CircuitU.S. District Court of Appeals, Fifth CircuitU.S. District Court of Appeals, Seventh CircuitU.S. District Court of Appeals, Ninth CircuitU.S. District Court, Northern District of CaliforniaU.S. District Court, Eastern District of CaliforniaU.S. District Court, Southern District of CaliforniaU.S. District Court, Central District of California

Associations

Faculty Member, Intensive Advocacy Program, University of San Francisco School of Law, 1994, 1995, 1998